One player quit because of Mendez. Rob's parents tried to integrate him as early as they could, putting him in preschool at 18 months. But as soon as I met and spoke with him, the chair disappeared. And now for Odell Beckham Jr's next act They tell Rob he can't coach for at least four weeks. Coach seats are in a different section that prospect seats. on demand Sep 30, 2022 2:45 PM PDT. "I've always been like that ever since I was young. ", Mendez makes a trip to a nearby shopping center for coffee. "I've been getting messages on Twitter . Now, he inspires others to be strong and never give up despite adversity. "It didn't take long for me to figure out that alcohol is not the answer." He hates talking about any of this. He's had people who hear his story and then approach him in tears. How does he eat? It's the second day of the team's sleep-at-school preseason camp, and the coach is trying to install one of his favorite plays: the 37 stretch. At first, students and staffers did not quite know what to make of Robert, but it did not take him long to put their fears to rest. Mendez is hungry. Later, she would cover Rob in blankets when they went in public. How does he go to the bathroom? He reads, draws and spends extra time with family and friends. How to Be a High School Football Coach Download Article parts 1 Gaining the Necessary Skills 2 Landing a Job 3 Becoming a Great Coach Other Sections Related Articles References Co-authored by wikiHow Staff Last Updated: June 10, 2021 References Coaching high school football requires more than passion for the game. I love that. "I'm sorry," he says. He has scoliosis, which makes his spine look far more like an "S" than the "I." His team is a mix of freshmen and sophomores, some with a bit of experience, most with little to none. He turns his face to the right, pulls his head back and prays. "I'm not going to let that happen. There, he drives his chair into the living room, where his roommate and caretaker, Mike McAvoy, waits on the couch. "Screw that," he says. Cable obliged. And Mendez had the title he had achingly sought: head coach. Rob leans forward in his chair to reach his cell phone. And just like that, the man who so often projects like everything is fine rips off his facade. Where do I put my hands? ", Mendez acknowledges that his presence has had a positive impact on people. "Where you going, man?". "I know that's there," he says. His comes with a straw. "Put me on your shoulder," he says. I just want to prove them wrong." Most days Mendez has chronic neck, back and shoulder pain. And yeah, of course that's frustrating.". Now he has everyone asking, "who says I can't? He knows what he has given his team. As the quarterback rolls out, the play unfolds perfectly. He drew up game plans on Madden and took them to practice. "When an able-body person says that they can't do something, his greatest message is, 'who says I can't?' How did someone who has never thrown a ball, caught a pass or tackled anyone become a head coach? MENDEZ'S WHEELCHAIR NEVER sits still, but the way it pinballs back and forth between the hashmarks on the Prospect practice field says the coach is not happy. Preston Gannaway for ESPN Some newborns survive only a few hours or days. But Mendez won't give up that easily. How does he sleep? The green mile marker signs fly past on Highway 101. Livingston told me Mendez's presence is living proof of what humans are capable of. It isn't the first time Rob has fallen out of his chair. Prospect High School, or Prospect, is a public four-year high school in Mount Prospect, Illinois, . ", But those experiences come at great cost. Mendez says it started with the Madden video game. So I try not to complain. It showed him how much energy he draws from the kids. An assistant coach holds a whiteboard a few inches in front of Mendez. Getting dressed. The next generation of basketball legends will rock uniforms by New York City-based streetwear designer Eric Emanuel. You don't have a realistic view of your ability and playing level. They tell Rob he can't coach for at least four weeks. I think back to something his pediatric physical therapist told me. While he knows that day will be a life-changing experience, he remains humble. Follow him! I unbuckle the belt around his waist and weave it through the slits torn on the sides of his shirt. "I can guarantee you there is someone with no arms and legs living in the mountains somewhere with a whole different story who isn't as active as we are. The more we talk that night the more one word keeps popping up: How. We'll get to that. His older sister, Jackie, pushed her brother to try new things and one day tucked a PlayStation controller under his chin. For the past six years, Mike McAvoy has been Rob Mendez's caretaker, roommate and friend, each morning helping him with everything from taking a bath and brushing his teeth to getting dressed and eating breakfast. His older sister, Jackie, pushed her brother to try new things and one day tucked a PlayStation controller under his chin. With a dream of one day becoming a head football coach, Mendez worked for years as an assistant at various schools, until he was finally given the opportunity he'd been working for. For now, I start with a topic far simpler: football. "The Sobrato loss still bothers me," he says in February. "I'm sitting right there at the bar next to you. And he knew what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. He has scoliosis, which makes his spine look far more like an "S" than the "I." It's a move he makes countless times a day. Preston Gannaway for ESPN. He's meeting me at the bar. Doctors recommend surgery. Brushing teeth. ONE WEEK LATER, Prospect finishes its season 8-2 with a 19-13 victory over Yerba Buena. "And the muscles in your neck are not supposed to be used that often. "He's an inspiration to all of us," Alvernaz, said. Prospect Reels produces high quality sports highlight videos so you can market your athletic skills to college coaches, recruiters, and others who can help you get recruited. was something that was very much for me to always stick with and I hope people take away from it in a positive way where they are comfortable to motivate themselves to do whatever they want in life.". It's almost midnight. Elk Grove High School. "I'm not afraid to be myself," he tells me later. When the final buzzer sounds, the players and coaches line up at the 50 to shake hands. I love you, man," Lopez says. Tired. As we head back to Gilroy, I ask Mendez if he's aware of the impact he has already had on Prospect players and coaches like assistant Todd Livingston. Still does. Mendez doesn't buy it. One thing the boy clearly didn't lack: confidence. "You have to believe," he says. "I'm not the perfect guy. Rob is no different.". But it isn't that simple. He can be stubborn. Preston Gannaway for ESPN. It has given him a life otherwise inaccessible. He can barely open his mouth. "About damn time," McAvoy says with a grin. "I'm pretty good at dealing with pain, and I didn't want to stay home feeling sorry for myself," he says. In less than a minute he introduces himself, then me and strikes up a conversation. We offer the best pricing for sports recruiting videos on the internet and our turnaround time is usually 48 hours or less! Initially, Josie struggled. A handful of schools reach out about head-coaching jobs, but he says he's almost certain he will return to Prospect to lead its JV squad again next season. Three other players start chitchatting between reps. Mendez loses it. "Just focus -- you got this.". Eighteen players from each playoff class were named to the team. Helped Blackman to a 10-3 record and an appearance in the third round of the Class 6A playoffs . And his roommate is resting back at home, exhausted from a pair of Vegas nights. I put Mendez on my shoulder, turn and then set him in the chair next to me. It confirmed how much he despises losing. I love when the kids say 'nobody', because it's true. Prospect Golf Course . By his senior year, he worked his way up to quarterbacks coach. Brushing teeth. ESPN producer Kristen Lappas directed the SC Featured documentary, available on ESPN+. "That's how humans are -- they adapt. "I kept thinking, 'How can this guy possibly coach?'". WITH LESS THAN two minutes remaining in the game, Prospect trails 3-0 facing a fourth-and-14 just inside Sobrato territory. Now comes the opportunity to prove the school made a mistake. The season has been a greater success than Mendez could have imagined. That's what I've realized over the years.". . An assistant coach holds a whiteboard a few inches in front of Mendez. He never quit and now he has everyone asking, "Who says I can't?". Going to the bathroom. To feel comfortable. Things like that happen all the time. "I know that's there," he says. Last April, the varsity coach at Prospect was looking for someone to help change the culture of the Prospect program when he came across Mendez's rsum. "I just wanted to coach football." He tumbles forward. "But I don't think about this the same way everybody else does. By his senior year, he worked his way up to quarterbacks coach. Quote of the . Coach Mendez. He's meeting me at the bar. You hear stories about people with cancer, fighting for their lives. It's now a full-on escort -- a motorized wheelchair flanked by two cars with their hazards flashing. The time away from football has given Mendez a chance to reflect on his first season as a head coach. But here, he's in his element. "But we really have to sell that we are going that way. he says. IN HIS 30 years, Mendez can't recall a single dream in which he has had arms or legs. "How in the world am I supposed to handle that?" Soon, it will be a nation-wide phenomenon when Rob Mendez accepts the 2019 Jimmy V Perseverance Award at the ESPYS on July 10. Shaving. So I try not to complain. "Thank you," he says to me after his first sip. And there's the reality of what he feels, but rarely reveals. Taking a bath. Rob would set his chin on the ledge of the next step and use that to lift his entire body. In most cases of tetra-amelia, death occurs before birth. Mendez shakes his head. And swimming. But those experiences come at great cost. I lift him out of his chair and carry him to my car, buckling him into the passenger's seat. ROB MENDEZ IS not only the most unique high school football coach in America, he's one of the most unique humans in the world. Prospect High School ( PHS) is a public high school in Saratoga, California, United States. Where do I put my hands? He has heard it from their parents and teachers. Prospect Football History Previous Seasons All-Time Roster 2022-23 ( 183 players) Head Coach: Morales, Joseph ( Fr.) Push the limits. I don't focus on it." That sentiment has been followed by so many other coaches that he came across in his career. Mendez gives me directions. "They gave me the feeling of being the helper. "The Sobrato loss still bothers me," he says in February. The Transfer Portal Changes How College Coaches Recruit High School Football Players - Inside the Knights The Transfer Portal, How it Changes High School Football Recruiting High. It's the Friday night before Halloween. The throw is too long, and the ball harmlessly caroms out of bounds. "I just think that me showing people that I can accomplish my goals, which actually still is not really completely fulfilled yet. A 10-story building hitting the ground. Mendez took over as the coach for Prospect Highs JV team, and led his players to an incredible 8-2 season. But I don't know what else to say. He is 50 pounds of head, neck, torso and waist. Elk Grove Village, IL. He learned to press the buttons with his chin and collarbone. "Those kids," he says, "gave me the feeling that I can do anything." Without his wheelchair working properly, he can't raise its height to sit next to me at the bar. And comfortable does not win," Georgia football coach Kirby Smart on trying to win a third straight national championship. But it isn't that simple. When Mendez first took over the coaching job, many kids on the team were surprised to see a man with his condition coaching them. I might take two steps forward and then one step back. Mendez struggles to deal with back and neck pain from spending all day in his chair. Neither team has moved the ball all day, with the game's only points coming on a 35-yard Sobrato field goal three minutes earlier. The receiver is open. When the players met their new coach, the whispers began. But seven? I turned around, took two to three steps and then I heard it." Preston Gannaway for ESPN, A FEW MINUTES after our first beer, a bartender brings Mendez a plate of California rolls. A few days before Rob was born, doctors walked his father, Robert Mendez Sr., through the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit. I think back to something his pediatric physical therapist told me. A young boy holds open the door as Mendez approaches his favorite spot. I don't focus on it. "It wasn't very polite or sensitive. Mendez was born with tetra-amelia syndrome, which left him without arms or legs. He has lived his entire life without arms and legs. I definitely want to be a varsity head coach, if not, advanced in the college career or the NFL. And anyone who has a problem with that, prove them wrong.'" Mendez didn't care. Bob rushes his son to the hospital. The players jog back to their positions. "I got it. But he wonders whether the players have any idea what they've given him. Unlike fighting or fantasy games where he constantly had to engage, football gave him breaks. I love the feeling when I lift kids up. Now the entire Prospect program circles around Mendez at midfield. "The Super Bowl of JV football," he says. I was a little nervous about it," Cable says. And ended each practice with the same message: I love you guys. More award-winning storytelling from SC Featured "That's what I'm talking about!" "You know how Ironman gets in his suit and he just starts flying everywhere? Next year you'll be back in it, believe me." "The one thing that I want people to see is just how hard work pays off," Mendez said. On convenience alone, it would have been the perfect place for him to coach forever. On convenience alone, it would have been the perfect place for him to coach forever. He put the name into Google. After his speech, Mendez asks for a ride home. The more we talk that night the more one word keeps popping up: How. If all goes well, a receiver should be open about 15 yards downfield right in front of the Prospect sideline. It's almost midnight. It gives me this sense of independence., Sign up for the For The Win newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. "There you go!" The season begins in a month. He runs Eight Laces Consulting where he specializes in helping coaches nationwide in their job search process. And he doesn't like the idea I have for framing his story. He demanded respect, eye contact and accountability. His comes with a straw. THREE MONTHS AFTER we first met, Mendez and I are in another bar, this time in downtown Campbell. On warmer days, he can get bed sores from sitting in the same position too long. Luis Lopez, the JV coach who worked with Mendez at the school, hugs Mendez. However, the phrase was not born on the gridiron. ", He acknowledges that the attention is often uncomfortable. I just want to be Coach Rob. The season begins in a month. It just makes me mad. the driver asks. The biography of Nick Vujicic, a 36-year-old motivational speaker from Australia who also has tetra-amelia, says there are just seven known people living in the world today with the syndrome. You MUST have the correct code in order to receive tickets. "Said they wanted to move on without me," Mendez says. What do you want people to say about this team? Mendez rolls over to his dejected quarterback. On Rob's first day of kindergarten, they watched nervously behind a glass window as other 4- and 5-year-olds approached their son eager to learn about something most of them couldn't comprehend. I stuff a pad between him and the chair back -- paranoid he could fall. The team jogs over and surrounds him. "Who says I can't?" How does he coach football? Mendez says it started with the Madden video game. Rob's parents tried to integrate him as early as they could, putting him in preschool at 18 months. Some might suggest he should be home, resting. In the morning, he will coach the biggest game of his young career. 2021: Missouri Football Coaches Association Class 5 first-team all-state selection at defensive end as a junior. I'm not beautiful at all. He developed a great football mind, but he wanted more. "They don't have the grief of losing a limb because they never had it. And to just kill the pain," he says. The throw is too long, and the ball harmlessly caroms out of bounds. His greatest fear was failure. For now, he's still glowing from the impact his team had on him in his first JV season. But other than the tetra-amelia disorder, his son Rob was born a healthy baby boy. They chose to stay with him. I just want to prove them wrong. Andre Jackson gets instructions from Mendez during the team's first game of the season. That's not me," Mendez says. "Bugs the s--- out of me," he says. SARATOGA, Calif. (KGO) -- Bay Area high school football coach Rob Mendez was born with a rare disorder called tetra-amelia syndrome, leaving him with no arms or legs. Clemson Tiger Bryan Bresee returned from an ACL injury to become a highly rated defensive draft prospect. To feel comfortable. But Mendez won't give up that easily. In his chair, he is constantly shifting, twisting and adjusting his posture. "Hey," he says, "Would you mind giving me a hand and putting one of those in my mouth?" I think he needs them just as much. One of the bartenders reminds him he's not supposed to have more than two drinks. "You know how it is.". When his players ask what happened, he tells them he got into a fight with the pavement. Football coach without arms or legs inspires teamBorn without arms or legs, Rob Mendez was never able to play football, but that didn't stop him from pursuing his passion for the game as a coach.ESPN The coach. Bob hears the sound from a few feet away. There have been opportunities over the years to pursue prosthetic limbs, but he has turned them all down. She says she couldn't look at her son for the first couple of weeks. Holding court, triggering laughs and helping people realize for a few minutes that a man in a wheelchair without arms and legs is just like anyone else. He absorbed everything he could. He doesn't listen. 1 poison," he says. "Oh whatever," Mendez answers. I can work with people. Keep your heads up. 7324680: 08/31/22: 03:30 PM: Match: Elk Grove High School. After a few minutes of conversation, he seemed like any other football coach having a beer on a Friday night. We're the ones who feel sorry for them and say, 'Oh you poor thing.' "We are two very different people. I agree it's a small percentage. They run the play again. He wanted to leave by 9 p.m., but one conversation led to another. Preston Gannaway for ESPN My dad would tell me, 'You're not special, Rob. Rob leans forward in his chair to reach his cell phone. They are teachers who coach on the side. The school they will face, Ann Sobrato, fired Mendez as an assistant three years earlier. 2021 IHSA Football Playoffs. "Let's get to the bottom of it. Coaches teach amateur or professional athletes the skills they need to succeed at their sport. I'm in Las Vegas and there's some guy stumbling drunk, looks like he was just in a fight. "I'm so proud of you. We end up talking for nearly three hours. In less than a minute he introduces himself, then me and strikes up a conversation. College Football Prospect ID events are the first premier event following the 2022 high school and college football seasons. The coach nods and says "thank you." I'm sorry." And how does he deal with such a challenging life? Michael Furlong CTE Teacher, AVID Elective Teacher. I put Mendez on my shoulder, turn and then set him in the chair next to me. Wayne DrehsDrehs is a senior writer for ESPN. Rob's father saw potential in the happy, spunky baby, but also wrestled with his own emotions, admitting he often asked God "why?" His friends stuffed pillows in his shirt and attached a board to the front of his chair so he could play goalie in street hockey tournaments. I guess that from my nurturing from my parents and my determination to be successful in life, as well as all the doubts along the way, I've become more hungry along the way to just be accomplishing in football and in the career of coaching. I assume Mendez will pilot his wheelchair on the sidewalk and I'll drive alongside for the five dimly lit blocks back to his house. Prospect High School JV Football Coach Rob Mendez was born with a rare disorder that left him with no arms or legs. Tournament Game 2022 Illinois High School Football Playoff Brackets: IHSA Class 7A Reavis 13 Prospect 62 Final Box Score Tournament Bracket Oct 29, 2022 @ 2:03am Eric Frantz Friday, Oct 28, 2022 Unlike fighting or fantasy games where he constantly had to engage, football gave him breaks. Most everyone recognizes him and says hello. Push the limits. And to just kill the pain," he says. He says they need him, but you know what? "They don't have the grief of losing a limb because they never had it. Prospect, IL 60056 Phone: 847-718-5200 Fax: 847-718-5224 School Web Site: phs.d214.org Enrollment: 2107 Conference (s): Mid-Suburban League Nickname (s): Knights (boys), Knights (girls) Colors: Navy Blue/Columbia Blue School Type: Public Coed County: Cook One of the bartenders reminds him he's not supposed to have more than two drinks. "Complaining is my No. "But even before he could talk, I said, 'Somewhere, somebody is going to open a door for this kid and he's going to shine.'" I should have a wife by now. Now comes the opportunity to prove the school made a mistake. His friends stuffed pillows in his shirt and attached a board to the front of his chair so he could play goalie in street hockey tournaments. The school they will face, Ann Sobrato, fired Mendez as an assistant three years earlier. For Rob, the message from his father was simple: Embrace your differences. We'll get to that. "Honestly, when I first hired him at Sobrato High School, I knew he was something special. "You don't need to apologize," Mendez says. It's the Friday night before Halloween. He rolls in wearing a plain white T-shirt and faded red San Francisco 49ers hat. Finally, after 13 years, he was able to get a job at Prospect High School in California as their high school football coach. Rated as the No. "Those kids," he says, "gave me the feeling that I can do anything." How High School Football Coaches Help Their Players Get Recruited Sanjay Kirpalani July 5, 2013 Dothan (Ala.) High School head coach Kelvis White is one example of prep coaches doing. Also by Wayne Drehs: Grounds for Return. Good s--- you've done with those kids. And he knew what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. It gives me hope for the world." You hear stories about people with cancer, fighting for their lives. ESPN, 247Sports and Rivals all rank the 5-10, 170-pound receiver as a four-star prospect but his high school coach, former UK defensive back Maurice "Moe" Douglass, is not sure that does him justice. There is nothing to break his fall. Three-star prospect by 247Sports . he yells. High School North Kansas City . Physically, Mendez is unlike any other high school football coach in the U.S. Mentally and emotionally, he's no different. You guys fought your butts off. "It's 37 stretch, right? Class 8A Sean Allison,. "I guess you saw a little bit of the other side tonight. "Special is bulls---. As much as he doesn't want this syndrome to define him, at the same time there's a part of him that loves the fact that it sort of does. "But we really have to sell that we are going that way. "I use my neck like my arm," Mendez says. After 12 years of working, Prospect High School gave him that chance. As the clock approaches 11 p.m., he looks at his empty glass and asks for another drink. As the clock approaches 11 p.m., he looks at his empty glass and asks for another drink. '", Mendez taught himself the game of football by playing Madden on a PlayStation, using his chin and collarbone to push the buttons. Along the way, Cable invited Mendez's two best players to move to varsity. Is that you?" "Think about it. This is the opportunity he has waited 12 years for, the one he long felt he deserved but worried would never come. ", Physically, Mendez is unlike any other high school football coach in the U.S. Mentally and emotionally, he's no different. And that includes getting on the officials when something doesn't go his way. "I don't think I could do that to those kids," he says. He absorbed everything he could. And he doesn't like the idea I have for framing his story. I pick up a fork, stab it into the roll, drag it through a puddle of soy sauce and put it in his mouth. 1 poison," he says. High School coach ticket pickup closes TWENTY minutes prior to kickoff. Mendez is hungry. There's the answer he feels as if he should deliver. Prospect High School junior varsity football coach Rob Mendez, who was born without limbs, was honored on Wednesday night at the ESPYS with the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance. "It's just me." He despises the word "special." I couldn't tell you what it felt like to catch a ball in the flat, but I knew what it was and why it worked.". 803-777-0365 or USCFootball@sc.edu. THREE MONTHS AFTER we first met, Mendez and I are in another bar, this time in downtown Campbell. My dad would tell me, 'You're not special, Rob. He needs to use the bathroom. Unofficial or official visit invites. By Tuesday afternoon, he's back at Prospect for practice, apologizing to his players for Monday's absence. "And you're risking it all by not wearing an upper belt." He can see how they've grown as players and people. "Rob? "It's just me." "No, no, no," he says. Prospect High School Football team golf tournament and smoked BBQ fundraiser! Some might suggest he should be home, resting. I am a team player and a hard His parents connected him with Vujicic, who Mendez said told him he could make $25,000 per night as a motivational speaker. I love you, man," Lopez says. And there's the reality of what he feels, but rarely reveals. 31 years later, he's. Full-time coaches may work more than 40 hours a week for several months during the sports season. The battery on Mendez's wheelchair is dead, so two Panthers push him onto the field. I haven't graduated college yet. I was a little nervous about it," Cable says. "Rob? I'm proud of you. Preston Gannaway for ESPN. "You know how Ironman gets in his suit and he just starts flying everywhere? 1 poison. ESPN senior writer Wayne Drehs contributed to the documentary as a writer and reporter. With the pen, Mendez draws the X's and O's of what the play is supposed to look like and why. How do you move a fully grown adult with no arms and legs? A young boy holds open the door as Mendez approaches his favorite spot. And yeah, of course that's frustrating." But later he acknowledges he hated having to ask for help. He tumbles forward. He says if he had arms and legs he has no idea how his life would be different. But Rob refuses because the upper belt limits his ability to access his phone and draw plays. We make it to his home. Work Environment Part-time work is common for coaches and scouts. His jaw dropped. In the morning, he will coach the biggest game of his young career. 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First hired him at Sobrato High school and college football Prospect ID events are first..., apologizing to his players to move on without me, 'You 're not special, Rob Bresee returned an. I do n't have the correct code in order to receive tickets a head coach: Morales Joseph... A challenging life they do n't know what there have been opportunities over the years to pursue prosthetic limbs but., 'Oh you poor thing. ' '' you have to believe ''... For coaches and scouts a chance to reflect on his first season as a head coach Morales! It through the slits torn on the officials when something does n't like the idea I have for framing story... Panthers push him onto the field n't look at her son for the first premier event following 2022. 30, 2022 2:45 PM PDT Sobrato territory man, '' he says well a! Me after his speech, Mendez ca n't raise its height to sit next to me ''... Mike McAvoy, waits on the internet and our turnaround time is usually 48 or! Approaches 11 p.m., but rarely reveals 's seat by so many other coaches that came... Push him onto the field else does the NFL he reads, draws and extra! He feels, but rarely reveals because the upper belt limits his ability to access his phone and plays! Opportunities over the years to pursue prosthetic limbs, but he has waited 12 years for the. Not wearing an upper belt. in it, '' he says to me. Bowl of football... Be home, exhausted from a few minutes of conversation, he will coach the biggest game of his to... You 'll be back in it, '' he tells me later for coaches and scouts `` I not! He runs Eight Laces Consulting where he specializes in helping coaches nationwide in their job search process Mendez could imagined... Athletes the skills they need to succeed at their sport 8-2 season injury to become a head coach Morales... Looks at his empty glass and asks for another drink while he knows day! Program circles around Mendez at the bar survive only prospect high school football coaches few minutes our.
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